At Blois, D'Artagnan received the money paid to him byMazarin for any future service he might render the cardinal.

From Blois to Paris was a journey of four days for ordinarytravelers, but D'Artagnan arrived on the third day at theBarriere Saint Denis. In turning the corner of the RueMontmartre, in order to reach the Rue Tiquetonne and theHotel de la Chevrette, where he had appointed Porthos tomeet him, he saw at one of the windows of the hotel, thatfriend himself dressed in a sky-blue waistcoat, embroideredwith silver, and gaping, till he showed every one of hiswhite teeth; whilst the people passing by admiringly gazedat this gentleman, so handsome and so rich, who seemed toweary of his riches and his greatness.

D'Artagnan and Planchet had hardly turned the corner whenPorthos recognized them.

"Eh! D'Artagnan!" he cried. "Thank God you have come!"

"Eh! good-day, dear friend!" replied D'Artagnan.

Porthos came down at once to the threshold of the hotel.

"Ah, my dear friend!" he cried, "what bad stabling for myhorses here."

"Indeed!" said D'Artagnan; "I am most unhappy to hear it, onaccount of those fine animals."

"And I, also - I was also wretchedly off," he answered,moving backward and forward as he spoke; "and had it notbeen for the hostess," he added, with his air of vulgarself-complacency, "who is very agreeable and understands ajoke, I should have got a lodging elsewhere."

The pretty Madeleine, who had approached during thiscolloquy, stepped back and turned pale as death on hearingPorthos's words, for she thought the scene with the Swisswas about to be repeated. But to her great surpriseD'Artagnan remained perfectly calm, and instead of beingangry he laughed, and said to Porthos:

"Yes, I understand, the air of La Rue Tiquetonne is not likethat of Pierrefonds; but console yourself, I will soonconduct you to one much better."

"When will you do that?"

"Immediately, I hope."

"Ah! so much the better!"

To that exclamation of Porthos's succeeded a groaning, lowand profound, which seemed to come from behind a door.D'Artagnan, who had just dismounted, then saw, outlinedagainst the wall, the enormous stomach of Musqueton, whosedown-drawn mouth emitted sounds of distress.

"And you, too, my poor Monsieur Mouston, are out of place inthis poor hotel, are you not?" asked D'Artagnan, in thatrallying tone which may indicate either compassion ormockery.

"He finds the cooking detestable," replied Porthos.

"Why, then, doesn't he attend to it himself, as atChantilly?"

"Ah, monsieur, I have not here, as I had there, the ponds ofmonsieur le prince, where I could catch those beautifulcarp, nor the forests of his highness to provide me withpartridges. As for the cellar, I have searched every partand poor stuff I found."

"Monsieur Mouston," said D'Artagnan, "I should indeedcondole with you had I not at this moment something verypressing to attend to."

Then taking Porthos aside:

"My dear Du Vallon," he said, "here you are in full dressmost fortunately, for I am going to take you to thecardinal's."

"Gracious me! really!" exclaimed Porthos, opening his greatwondering eyes.

"Yes, my friend."

"A presentation? indeed!"

"Does that alarm you?"

"No, but it agitates me."

"Oh! don't be distressed; you have to deal with a cardinalof another kind. This one will not oppress you by hisdignity."

"'Tis the same thing - you understand me, D'Artagnan - acourt."

"There's no court now. Alas!"

"The queen!"

"I was going to say, there's no longer a queen. The queen!Rest assured, we shall not see her."

"And you say that we are going from here to the PalaisRoyal?"

"Immediately. Only, that there may be no delay, I shallborrow one of your horses."

"Certainly; all the four are at your service."

"Oh, I need only one of them for the time being."

"Shall we take our valets?"

"Yes, you may as well take Musqueton. As to Planchet, he hascertain reasons for not going to court."

"And what are they?"

"Oh, he doesn't stand well with his eminence."

"Mouston," said Porthos, "saddle Vulcan and Bayard."

"And for myself, monsieur, shall I saddle Rustaud?"

"No, take a more stylish horse, Phoebus or Superbe; we aregoing with some ceremony."

"Ah," said Musqueton, breathing more freely, "you are onlygoing, then, to make a visit?"

"Oh! yes, of course, Mouston; nothing else. But to avoidrisk, put the pistols in the holsters. You will find mine onmy saddle, already loaded."

Mouston breathed a sigh; he couldn't understand visits ofceremony made under arms.

"Indeed," said Porthos, looking complacently at his oldlackey as he went away, "you are right, D'Artagnan; Moustonwill do; Mouston has a very fine appearance."

D'Artagnan smiled.

"But you, my friend - are you not going to change yourdress?"

"No, I shall go as I am. This traveling dress will serve toshow the cardinal my haste to obey his commands."

They set out on Vulcan and Bayard, followed by Musqueton onPhoebus, and arrived at the Palais Royal at about a quarterto seven. The streets were crowded, for it was the day ofPentecost, and the crowd looked in wonder at these twocavaliers; one as fresh as if he had come out of a bandbox,the other so covered with dust that he looked as if he hadbut just come off a field of battle.

Musqueton also attracted attention; and as the romance ofDon Quixote was then the fashion, they said that he wasSancho, who, after having lost one master, had found two.

On reaching the palace, D'Artagnan sent to his eminence theletter in which he had been ordered to return without delay.He was soon ordered to the presence of the cardinal.

"Courage!" he whispered to Porthos, as they proceeded. "Donot be intimidated. Believe me, the eye of the eagle isclosed forever. We have only the vulture to deal with. Holdyourself as bolt upright as on the day of the bastion of St.Gervais, and do not bow too low to this Italian; that mightgive him a poor idea of you."

"Good!" answered Porthos. "Good!"

Mazarin was in his study, working at a list of pensions andbenefices, of which he was trying to reduce the number. Hesaw D'Artagnan and Porthos enter with internal pleasure, yetshowed no joy in his countenance.

"Ah! you, is it? Monsieur le lieutenant, you have been veryprompt. 'Tis well. Welcome to ye."

"Thanks, my lord. Here I am at your eminence's service, aswell as Monsieur du Vallon, one of my old friends, who usedto conceal his nobility under the name of Porthos."

Porthos bowed to the cardinal.

"A magnificent cavalier," remarked Mazarin.

Porthos turned his head to the right and to the left, anddrew himself up with a movement full of dignity.

"The best swordsman in the kingdom, my lord," saidD'Artagnan.

Porthos bowed to his friend.

Mazarin was as fond of fine soldiers as, in later times,Frederick of Prussia used to be. He admired the stronghands, the broad shoulders and the steady eye of Porthos. Heseemed to see before him the salvation of his administrationand of the kingdom, sculptured in flesh and bone. Heremembered that the old association of musketeers wascomposed of four persons.

"And your two other friends?" he asked.

Porthos opened his mouth, thinking it a good opportunity toput in a word in his turn; D'Artagnan checked him by aglance from the corner of his eye.

"They are prevented at this moment, but will join us later."

Mazarin coughed a little.

"And this gentleman, being disengaged, takes to the servicewillingly?" he asked.

"Yes, my lord, and from pure devotion to the cause, forMonsieur de Bracieux is rich."

"Rich!" said Mazarin, whom that single word always inspiredwith a great respect.

"Fifty thousand francs a year," said Porthos.

These were the first words he had spoken.

"From pure zeal?" resumed Mazarin, with his artful smile;"from pure zeal and devotion then?"

"My lord has, perhaps, no faith in those words?" saidD'Artagnan.

"Have you, Monsieur le Gascon?" asked Mazarin, supportinghis elbows on his desk and his chin on his hands.

"I," replied the Gascon, "I believe in devotion as a word atone's baptism, for instance, which naturally comes beforeone's proper name; every one is naturally more or lessdevout, certainly; but there should be at the end of one'sdevotion something to gain."

"And your friend, for instance; what does he expect to haveat the end of his devotion?"

"Well, my lord, my friend has three magnificent estates:that of Vallon, at Corbeil; that of Bracieux, in theSoissonais; and that of Pierrefonds, in the Valois. Now, mylord, he would like to have one of his three estates erectedinto a barony."

"Only that?" said Mazarin, his eyes twinkling with joy onseeing that he could pay for Porthos's devotion withoutopening his purse; "only that? That can be managed."

"I shall be baron!" explained Porthos, stepping forward.

"I told you so," said D'Artagnan, checking him with hishand; "and now his eminence confirms it."

"And you, Monsieur D'Artagnan, what do you want?"

"My lord," said D'Artagnan, "it is twenty years sinceCardinal de Richelieu made me lieutenant."

"Yes, and you would be gratified if Cardinal Mazarin shouldmake you captain."

D'Artagnan bowed.

"Well, that is not impossible. We will see, gentlemen, wewill see. Now, Monsieur de Vallon," said Mazarin, "whatservice do you prefer, in the town or in the country?"

Porthos opened his mouth to reply.

"My lord," said D'Artagnan, "Monsieur de Vallon is like me,he prefers service extraordinary - that is to say,enterprises that are considered mad and impossible."

That boastfulness was not displeasing to Mazarin; he fellinto meditation.

"And yet," he said, "I must admit that I sent for you toappoint you to quiet service; I have certain apprehensions- well, what is the meaning of that?"

In fact, a great noise was heard in the ante-chamber; at thesame time the door of the study was burst open and a man,covered with dust, rushed into it, exclaiming:

"My lord the cardinal! my lord the cardinal!"

Mazarin thought that some one was going to assassinate himand he drew back, pushing his chair on the castors.D'Artagnan and Porthos moved so as to plant themselvesbetween the person entering and the cardinal.

"Well, sir," exclaimed Mazarin, "what's the matter? and whydo you rush in here, as if you were about to penetrate acrowded market-place?"

"My lord," replied the messenger, "I wish to speak to youreminence in secret. I am Monsieur du Poins, an officer inthe guards, on duty at the donjon of Vincennes."

Mazarin, perceiving by the paleness and agitation of themessenger that he had something of importance to say, made asign that D'Artagnan and Porthos should give place.

D'Artagnan and Porthos withdrew to a corner of the cabinet.

"Speak, monsieur, speak at once!" said Mazarin "What is thematter?"

"The matter is, my lord, that the Duc de Beaufort hascontrived to escape from the Chateau of Vincennes."

Mazarin uttered a cry and became paler than the man who hadbrought the news. He fell back, almost fainting, in hischair.

"Escaped? Monsieur de Beaufort escaped?"

"My lord, I saw him run off from the top of the terrace."

"And you did not fire on him?"

"He was out of range."

"Monsieur de Chavigny - where was he?"

"Absent."

"And La Ramee?"

"Was found locked up in the prisoner's room, a gag in hismouth and a poniard near him."

"But the man who was under him?"

"Was an accomplice of the duke's and escaped along withhim."

Mazarin groaned.

"My lord," said D'Artagnan, advancing toward the cardinal,"it seems to me that your eminence is losing precious time.It may still be possible to overtake the prisoner. France islarge; the nearest frontier is sixty leagues distant."

"And who is to pursue him?" cried Mazarin.

"I, pardieu!"

"And you would arrest him?"

"Why not?"

"You would arrest the Duc de Beaufort, armed, in the field?"

"If your eminence should order me to arrest the devil, Iwould seize him by the horns and would bring him in."

"So would I," said Porthos.

"So would you!" said Mazarin, looking with astonishment atthose two men. "But the duke will not yield himself withouta furious battle."

"Very well," said D'Artagnan, his eyes aflame, "battle! Itis a long time since we have had a battle, eh, Porthos?"

"Battle!" cried Porthos.

"And you think you can catch him?"

"Yes, if we are better mounted than he."

"Go then, take what guards you find here, and pursue him."

"You command us, my lord, to do so?"

"And I sign my orders," said Mazarin, taking a piece ofpaper and writing some lines; "Monsieur du Vallon, yourbarony is on the back of the Duc de Beaufort's horse; youhave nothing to do but to overtake it. As for you, my dearlieutenant, I promise you nothing; but if you bring him backto me, dead or alive, you may ask all you wish."

"To horse, Porthos!" said D'Artagnan, taking his friend bythe hand.

"Here I am," smiled Porthos, with his sublime composure.

They descended the great staircase, taking with them all theguards they found on their road, and crying out, "To arms!To arms!" and immediately put spur to horse, which set offalong the Rue Saint Honore with the speed of the whirlwind.

"Well, baron, I promise you some good exercise!" said theGascon.

"Yes, my captain."

As they went, the citizens, awakened, left their doors andthe street dogs followed the cavaliers, barking. At thecorner of the Cimetiere Saint Jean, D'Artagnan upset a man;it was too insignificant an occurrence to delay people soeager to get on. The troop continued its course as thoughtheir steeds had wings.

Alas! there are no unimportant events in this world and weshall see that this apparently slight incident came nearendangering the monarchy.